Compact valve system for self-inflating tire

ABSTRACT

A tire having a tire cavity is disclosed, wherein the tire has a bi-directional pump assembly including a pump passageway having an inlet end and an outlet end, and being operative to allow a portion of the pump passageway near a tire footprint to substantially close and open the pump passageway. The tire includes a valve assembly having a valve housing, wherein a diaphragm is mounted in the valve housing forming an interior chamber, and wherein the diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of the tire cavity. The interior chamber has an inlet in fluid communication with outside air, and an outlet in fluid communication with inlet and outlet of the pump passageway. The valve assembly further includes an inlet control valve having a valve bottom positioned over the outlet and operative to open and close the outlet. The inlet control valve has a first end connected to the diaphragm, and a resilient member biases the inlet control valve into the open position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to self-inflating tires and, morespecifically, to a pump mechanism for such tires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normal air diffusion reduces tire pressure over time. The natural stateof tires is under inflated. Accordingly, drivers must repeatedly act tomaintain tire pressures or they will see reduced fuel economy, tire lifeand reduced vehicle braking and handling performance. Tire PressureMonitoring Systems have been proposed to warn drivers when tire pressureis significantly low. Such systems, however, remain dependant upon thedriver taking remedial action when warned to re-inflate a tire torecommended pressure. It is a desirable, therefore, to incorporate aself-inflating feature within a tire that will self-inflate the tire inorder to compensate for any reduction in tire pressure over time withoutthe need for driver intervention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides in a first aspect a tire having a pump and valveassembly. The tire has a tire cavity, and a first and second sidewallextending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tiretread region. The valve assembly has a valve housing, wherein the valvehousing has an interior chamber, wherein a diaphragm is mounted in theinterior chamber, and wherein the diaphragm is in fluid communicationwith the tire cavity. The valve housing has a passageway in fluidcommunication with the tire cavity and the outlet end of the pump. Theinterior chamber has a chamber inlet in fluid communication with theoutside air, and a chamber outlet in fluid communication with an inletand an outlet of the pump passageway. The valve assembly furtherincluding an inlet control valve positioned over the chamber outlet andoperative to open and close said chamber outlet. A resilient member ispositioned in the interior chamber of the valve housing, and having afirst end connected to the inlet control valve.

The invention provides is a second aspect a tire having a bidirectionalpump and valve assembly. The tire has a tire cavity, and a first andsecond sidewall extending respectively from first and second tire beadregions to a tire tread region. The tire has a pump passageway, saidpump passageway having a first end and a second end and being operativeto allow a portion of the pump passageway near a tire footprint to closeand open the pump passageway when the tire is rotated. The valveassembly having a valve housing having an interior chamber, wherein adiaphragm is mounted in the interior chamber, and wherein the diaphragmis responsive to the pressure of the tire cavity. The interior chamberhaving an inlet in fluid communication with the outside air, and anoutlet in fluid communication with a first chamber and a second chamber.The valve assembly further including an inlet control valve positionedin the interior chamber, wherein the inlet control valve is positionedover the outlet and operative to open and close the outlet. Wherein aresilient member is positioned in the interior chamber of the valvehousing, wherein the resilient member is positioned to bias the inletcontrol valve into the open position. The first chamber has a one wayvalve positioned therein, and the first chamber is in fluidcommunication with the pump passageway first end. The second chamber hasa one way valve positioned therein, and the second chamber is in fluidcommunication with the pump passageway second end. The valve housingfurther includes a third chamber, wherein the third chamber is in fluidcommunication with the pump first end and the tire cavity. A one wayvalve is positioned in the third chamber, wherein the third chamber islocated between the pump first end and the tire cavity.

DEFINITIONS

“Aspect ratio” of the tire means the ratio of its section height (SH) toits section width (SW) multiplied by 100 percent for expression as apercentage.

“Asymmetric tread” means a tread that has a tread pattern notsymmetrical about the center plane or equatorial plane EP of the tire.

“Axial” and “axially” means lines or directions that are parallel to theaxis of rotation of the tire.

“Chafer” is a narrow strip of material placed around the outside of atire bead to protect the cord plies from wearing and cutting against therim and distribute the flexing above the rim.

“Circumferential” means lines or directions extending along theperimeter of the surface of the annular tread perpendicular to the axialdirection.

“Equatorial Centerplane (CP)” means the plane perpendicular to thetire's axis of rotation and passing through the center of the tread.

“Footprint” means the contact patch or area of contact of the tire treadwith a flat surface at zero speed and under normal load and pressure.

“Inboard side” means the side of the tire nearest the vehicle when thetire is mounted on a wheel and the wheel is mounted on the vehicle.

“Lateral” means an axial direction.

“Lateral edges” means a line tangent to the axially outermost treadcontact patch or footprint as measured under normal load and tireinflation, the lines being parallel to the equatorial centerplane.

“Net contact area” means the total area of ground contacting treadelements between the lateral edges around the entire circumference ofthe tread divided by the gross area of the entire tread between thelateral edges.

“Non-directional tread” means a tread that has no preferred direction offorward travel and is not required to be positioned on a vehicle in aspecific wheel position or positions to ensure that the tread pattern isaligned with the preferred direction of travel. Conversely, adirectional tread pattern has a preferred direction of travel requiringspecific wheel positioning.

“Outboard side” means the side of the tire farthest away from thevehicle when the tire is mounted on a wheel and the wheel is mounted onthe vehicle.

“Passageway” means an integrally formed pathway in the tire or adiscrete tube inserted in the tire forming the pump.

“Peristaltic” means operating by means of wave-like contractions thatpropel contained matter, such as air, along pathways.

“Radial” and “radially” means directions radially toward or away fromthe axis of rotation of the tire.

“Rib” means a circumferentially extending strip of rubber on the treadwhich is defined by at least one circumferential groove and either asecond such groove or a lateral edge, the strip being laterallyundivided by full-depth grooves.

“Sipe” means small slots molded into the tread elements of the tire thatsubdivide the tread surface and improve traction, sipes are generallynarrow in width and close in the tires footprint as opposed to groovesthat remain open in the tire's footprint.

“Tread element” or “traction element” means a rib or a block elementdefined by having shape adjacent grooves.

“Tread Arc Width” means the arc length of the tread as measured betweenthe lateral edges of the tread.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a tire and wheel assembly showing a pump andvalve assembly;

FIG. 2 illustrates the tire and wheel assembly of FIG. 1 in operationduring tire rotation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bead area of the tire,including the pump;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the pump beingcompressed in the tire bead area;

FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view of the bead area shown with thecompact valve system and filter assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the compact valve system of FIG. 5A shownin a plane perpendicular to FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the compact valve system as viewedfrom inside the tire;

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the compact valve system and pump of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the compact valve system, shownwith the insert removed;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the retainer and the upper plate;

FIG. 10A is a top view of the retainer;

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the retainer in the direction10B-10B of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view of the retainer in the direction10C-10C of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10D is a cross-sectional view of the retainer in the direction10D-10D of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10E is a cross-sectional view of the retainer in the direction10E-10E of FIG. 10B;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the compact valve system and filterassembly;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the compact valve system,without the insert, in the direction 12-12 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the compact valve system, without the insert.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 13 in the direction14-14;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 14 in the direction15-15;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the inlet control valve;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet control valve in thedirection 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the inlet control valve in thedirection 18-18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of the inlet control valve in thedirection 19-19 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a section view of the inlet control valve of FIG. 16 in thedirection 20-20;

FIG. 21 is a section view of the inlet control valve of FIG. 17 in thedirection 21-21;

FIG. 22 is an exploded view of the flow controller.

FIG. 23 is an exploded view of the inlet control valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a tire assembly 10 includes a tire 12, aperistaltic pump assembly 14, and a tire wheel 16. The tire mounts in aconventional fashion to a rim having rim mounting surfaces 18 locatedadjacent outer rim flanges 22. The outer rim flange 22 has an outer rimsurface 26. An annular rim body 28 joins the rim flanges 22 and supportsthe tire assembly as shown. The tire is of conventional construction,having a pair of sidewalls 32 extending from opposite bead areas 34 to acrown or tire tread region 38. The tire and rim enclose an interior tirecavity 40.

As shown in FIG. 1 the pump assembly 14 includes a pump passageway 42that is mounted or located in the sidewall area of the tire, preferablynear the bead region. The pump passageway 42 may be formed of a discretetube made of a resilient, flexible material such as plastic, elastomeror rubber compounds, and is capable of withstanding repeated deformationcycles when the tube is deformed into a flattened condition subject toexternal force and, upon removal of such force, returns to an originalcondition. The tube is of a diameter sufficient to operatively pass avolume of air sufficient for the purposes described herein and allowinga positioning of the tube in an operable location within the tireassembly as will be described. Preferably, the tube has an ellipticalcross-sectional shape, although other shapes such as round may beutilized.

The pump passageway itself may also be integrally formed into thesidewall of the tire during vulcanization, eliminating the need for aninserted tube. An integrally formed pump passageway is preferably madeby building into a selected green tire component such as a chafer, aremovable strip made of wire or silicone. The component is built intothe tire and cured. The removable strip is then removed post cure toform a molded in or integrally formed pump air passageway.

Hereinafter, the term “pump passageway” refers either to installed tubesor an integrally molded in passageway. The location selected for the airpassageway within the tire is not limited to the sidewall of the tire,and may be within a tire component residing within a high flex region ofthe tire, sufficient to progressively collapse the internal hollow airpassageway as the tire rotates under load thereby conveying air alongthe air passageway from the inlet to the pump outlet.

The pump air passageway 42 has an inlet end 42 a and an outlet end 42 bjoined together by a compact valve system 200. As shown, the inlet end42 a and the outlet end 42 b are spaced apart approximately 360 degreesforming an annular pump assembly.

Compact Valve System 200

A first embodiment of a compact valve system 200 is shown in FIGS. 5-19.FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of the compact valve system 200.The compact valve system includes an inlet control valve 400 whichfunctions to regulate and control the inlet flow and exit flow of thepump 42. Starting from the bottom of the FIG. 11, the compact valvesystem 200 includes an optional insert 60, a retainer 80, a flowcontroller 300, an inlet control valve 400 and cap 500, a spring 600,and a lid 700. An optional filter assembly 800 is connected to thecompact valve system 200.

Insert 60

As shown in FIG. 5A, the compact valve system includes an optionalinsert 60 that is inserted into a receptacle 64 built in the tire. Thereceptacle 64 is a raised area or hump formed on the tire inner surfaceand may optionally include a threaded inner hole, wherein the hump maybe built into the tire sidewall using a series of concentric layers ofmaterial, such as uncured elastomer, green rubber. A one piece moldedshape of rubber or elastomer may also be used instead of the concentriclayers. Alternatively, the insert 60 may be inserted into the receptacleprior to vulcanization. The outer insert may be made of green rubber,elastomer, nylon, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or metal suchas brass. The insert is preferably coated with a suitable adhesive suchas resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL) or commonly referred to as “dip”known to those skilled in the art. The outer surface of the insert maybe roughened and coated with the selected RFL. The outer surface of theinsert may further include ridges, flanges, extensions, threads or othermechanical means in addition to the selected RFL to retain the insertinto the rubber of the tire sidewall.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the optional insert 60 is shaped like a cup and hasan interior section formed by an open end facing the tire cavity, abottom wall 62 opposite the open end and a sidewall 63. The bottom wallhas two male portions 65 and 67 extending from the bottom wall thatalign and connect to the pump passageways 42 a, 42 b for communicatingfluid between the insert 60 and pump 42. Each male portion has a holetherethrough for communicating air to the interior of the valve. Thebottom portion also has two opposed holes 68, 69 for alignment and fluidcommunication with the pump passageways 42 a, 42 b. An optional gasket70 is positioned on the bottom wall 62 of the insert 60. The gasket iscircular and flat, with holes aligned with the holes 68, 69 of theinsert 60. The gasket may also have protruding rims around the threeholes. As shown in FIG. 5A, the bottom wall 62 of the insert 60 has athird hole 71 for receiving the male portion 820 of the filter assembly800. The outer insert 60 also has a flanged rim portion 61 thatsurrounds the sidewall 63 with opposed female slots. A lid 700 with twoopposed U shaped connectors 710 are received within opposed femaleslots.

Retainer 80

The optional outer insert 60 houses a retainer 80. The retainer 80 isshown in FIGS. 8-9 and FIGS. 10A-E. The retainer 80 is generallycylindrically shaped, with an alignment key 82 projecting from the outersurface. The alignment key 82 is seated in mating engagement with analignment slot (not shown) formed in the sidewall of the outer insert60. The alignment key 82 ensure that slots 83 a, 84 a on the bottomsurface 85 of the valve body aligns with holes 68, 69 of the insert. Thebottom surface 85 of the retainer further includes a hole 86 forreceiving filtered air from the filter assembly 800. The insert 60 is anoptional component that may be eliminated, and the outer surface of theretainer 80 may be threaded for reception into the receptacle 64.

FIG. 9 illustrated an exploded view of the retainer 80 wherein an upperplate 87 is positioned over the bottom surface 81, so that an alignmenttab 91 is received in the alignment key 82 of the retainer 80. FIG. 10Eillustrates a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the retainer 80. Asshown in FIG. 10A, the bottom surface 81 of the retainer has groovesformed therein, which cooperate with the upper plate to form passageways83 b, 86 b, and 84 b. Fluid from the pump enters slotted holes 83 a, 84a and then are communicated through angled passageways 83 b,84 b tolocations 83 c, 84 c. As shown in FIG. 10C, flow from location 83 c, 84c is then directed through port 89, 90 of upper plate 87. As shown inFIG. 10B, the upper plate 87 has opposed slots 92, 93 positioned foralignment with slots 83 a, 84 a. As shown in FIG. 10C, inlet flow fromthe filter enters the retainer through hole 86 a, which is then routedthrough angled channel 86 b into location 86 c. As shown in FIG. 10D,flow from location 86 c is then ported through hole 88 of the upperplate 87.

As shown in FIG. 11, a flow controller 300 is positioned inside theretainer 80. As shown in FIG. 22, the flow control body 302 has analignment tab 304 positioned for reception in the alignment key 82 ofthe retainer. The flow controller 300 has directional control valves306, 308 and anti return or check valves 310, 312.

Inlet Control Valve

As shown in FIG. 11, an inlet control valve 400 is positioned inside theretainer 80 and adjacent to the flow controller 300. The inlet controlvalve 400 regulates the intake flow to the pump system. As shown in FIG.17, the inlet control valve has a housing 402 for housing a circularshaped diaphragm 404. The housing 402 has two aligned holes in a firstdirection on the bottom surface: first and second passageways 426, 428,which are joined together by elongate slot 429. The elongate slot 429 isformed in the bottom of the housing 402, as shown in FIG. 19. As shownin FIG. 12, each first and second passageway 426, 428 aligns withchamber 307, 309 respectively of the flow controller 300. As shown inFIG. 20, the inlet control housing 402 also has two aligned holes on thebottom surface in a second direction, perpendicular to the firstdirection: third passageway 430 and fourth passageway 432. As shown inFIG. 19, third passageway 430 and fourth passageway 432 are in fluidcommunication by C shaped slot 450 formed in the inlet housing 402. Thecurved slot 450 routs flow from passageway 430 to channel 460 and thenthrough outlet channel 470.

As shown in FIG. 17, the interior of the housing 402 has a centralchamber 403. A bottom plate 418 is positioned on the bottom of thecentral chamber 403. The bottom plate 418 has a central hole 420 forfluid communication with the elongate slot 429. As shown in FIG. 20, thebottom plate 418 blocks flow from passageways 430, 432 into the inletcontrol valve housing. As shown in FIG. 18, the bottom plate 418 allowsflow into the inlet control valve from passageway 415 via hole 419.Filtered inlet air is routed through inlet hole 86 a/b/c of theretainer, through chamber 315 of the flow controller, and then throughhole 415 of the inlet control housing 402, and then through hole 419 ofthe bottom plate 418 into the inlet chamber of the control valve.

As shown in FIG. 17, positioned adjacent the bottom plate 418 is aninlet control valve 410. As best shown in FIG. 23, the inlet controlvalve 410 is formed of the valve bottom 414, an optional spacer 416 anda valve top 412. The valve top 412 has a circular planar region having afirst side 411 positioned adjacent a circular diaphragm 404, and asecond side having a central collar 413 extending therefrom. An optionalspacer 416 may be received about the collar 413. The valve bottom 414has a plug 417 extending therefrom which is received inside the collar413. The valve bottom 414 is positioned to be seated over valve seathole 420 of the bottom plate 418, and positioned to block flow fromentering valve seat hole 420.

A first elastic member 471 has an inner hole 472 that is positionedbetween the spacer 416 and the valve top 412. The first elastic member471 has a plurality of spokes 474 which extend radially from an annularmember 476. The outer ends 478 of the spokes are received between twoannular spacers 480, 482. An optional second elastic member 484 may havethe outer radial ends received between the annular spacer 480 and thebottom plate 418. The inner portion of the optional second elasticmember 484 may be received between the valve bottom and the spacer 416.The first and second elastic members 471, 484 are formed of a resilientmaterial such as metal, rubber, elastomer to function as a spring.

The advantage to this design is that the outside air enters the interiorvalve chamber, and then is sucked through the valve seat hole and thento the pump. Thus the vacuum force is acting on a relatively small hole420 versus the entire diaphragm. Thus the elastic members 471, 484 donot have to overcome a large vacuum force.

The inlet control valve further includes an optional cover 406 having ahole 408 that is positioned over the diaphragm 404. The diaphragm 404 ispositioned adjacent valve body 411. As shown in FIG. 11, an inner cap500 is positioned over the inlet control valve. As shown in FIG. 15, theinner cap has an interior hole 502 to allow fluid communication of thediaphragm with the inside cavity of the tire. The cap has a second hole504 that is in fluid communication with the passageway 470. A lid 700 isreceived over the inner cap 500. A spring 600 is positioned between thelid 700 and the inner cap 500. The inner cap 500 has a central supportcolumn 510 which is received in a central hole 702 of outer cap. Theouter cap has aligned holes 704, 706 with holes 502, 504. A lid 700 withtwo opposed U shaped connectors 710 are received within opposed femaleslots of the outer insert 60.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic of the tire assembly 10 including theflow controller and its relation to the pump 42 and inlet control valve400. The inlet control valve 400 controls whether outside filtered airis permitted to enter the system. If air is needed, the inlet controlvalve 400 opens and allows air to enter the interior chamber 403 of theinlet control valve 400. Air is sucked through the hole 420, into slot429, through directional control valve 308 and then into the pump. Flowis directed through the flow controller 300, and through one ofdirectional control valve 308. Flow enters the pump inlet 42 a and ispumped through the tire to the pump outlet 42 b. The anti return orcheck valve 306 blocks the pumped flow from entering inlet controlvalve. The pumped air passes through check valve 310 and then into thetire cavity. If the tire is rotating in the opposite direction, airenters through directional valve 306, is directed into the pump 42 b andthen into anti return valve 312 and then into tire cavity.

Filter Assembly

The filter assembly 800 is configured to be mounted on the outside ofthe tire. The filter assembly is shown having a circular cross-sectionalshape with a hard plastic exterior that is shown mounted in the lowersidewall area near the bead. The filter assembly 800 has an interiorsection 802 filled with porous media 804 suitable for filtering air. Thefilter assembly 800 has an inlet 810 to receive ambient air. Air travelsthrough the inlet 810 and into the interior section 802 where the air isfiltered by the porous media 804. The air exits the outlet 812 of theinterior section and into passageway 814 that extends through a malefitting 816. The male fitting 816 is aligned for connection with alignedholes 86 of the retainer and hole 86 a of the insert.

System Operation

The compact valve system 200 controls the flow of air into the pumpsystem. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 14, the tire cavity pressure iscommunicated to the diaphragm 404 via holes 704, 502, 408. As shown inFIG. 12, the tire cavity pressure acts on the diaphragm 404, which seatsthe valve bottom against the central hole 420 so that no air can enterinto the compact valve system. The first and second resilient member471, 484 counteracts the tire cavity pressure, acting as a spring tobias the valve bottom in the open position. The resilient members aredesigned to have a set trigger pressure, so that if the tire cavitypressure falls below the trigger pressure, the resilient member(s) biasthe valve bottom away from the central hole 420 into the open position.As shown in FIG. 14, filtered outside air enters the compact valvesystem 200 via hole 86 a.

After the air enters the compact valve system 200 via hole 86 a, thefiltered air is routed through angled channel 86 b into location 86 c ofthe retainer 80 as shown in FIGS. 10E and 10D. Flow from location 86 cof the retainer is then routed to hole 88 and then into chamber 315 ofthe flow controller 300 as shown in FIG. 15. Air passes through hole 415of the inlet control valve and into the inlet control valve interiorchamber 403, as shown in FIGS. 15, 18. The air then passes from theinterior chamber 403 into the bottom plate hole 420 if the valve isopen. Next the flow is routed to the pump through elongated slot 429,through directional control valve 306 and into chamber 307. The flowexits hole 83 a of the retainer and into the pump end 42 a. The air ispumped through the pump passageway 42 as the tire rotates in a firstdirection.

As will be appreciated from FIG. 2, air pump 42 is shown as a 360 degreepump, with the inlet 42 a and outlet 42 b co-located. As the tirerotates in a direction 109, a footprint 100 is formed against the groundsurface. A compressive force 104 is directed into the tire from thefootprint 100 and acts to flatten a segment 110 of the pump 42 a asshown at numeral 106. Flattening of the segment 110 of the pump 42forces a portion of air located between the flattened segment 110 andthe compact valve system 200, towards the compact valve system 200. Asthe tire continues to rotate in direction 108 along the ground surface98, the pump tube 42 will be sequentially flattened or squeezed segmentby segment 110, 110′, 110″ in a direction opposite to the tire rotation108. The sequential flattening of the pump tube 42 segment by segmentcauses the column of air located between the flattened segments to bepumped to the pump outlet 42 b.

The pumped air from outlet 42 b enters the compact valve system 200 viaslot 84 a. The check valve 308 blocks flow from entering chamber 309.The pumped air travels from slot 84 a through channel 84 b to port 84 cas shown in FIG. 10E. The pumped air flows from location 84 c is thendirected through port 90 of upper plate 87 as shown in FIG. 10 c. Asshown in FIG. 14, the pumped air flows through check valve 312 intochamber 313, and then exits the inlet control valve via fourthpassageway 432 of inlet control housing 402, through channel 460connected to outlet 470 of the inlet control valve, and then throughaligned holes 504 of inner cap and 706 of lid into the tire cavity. Thetire will be pumped with air from the pump and inlet control valveassembly 200 until the tire pressure exceeds the trigger pressure. Ifthe tire pressure exceeds the trigger pressure, the valve bottom willseat over central hole 420, and block air from entering the pump system.

If the direction of the tire rotation is reversed, the pump and inletcontrol valve system will work as described above except for thefollowing differences. Filtered air will enter the system into the inletcontrol valve chamber 403. If the tire cavity needs air, the valvebottom will unseat from hole 420. The pumps will suck air from elongatedslot 429 and then enter through check valve 308 into chamber 309 andthen exit through hole 84 a into pump 42 b. The pumped air will enterthe compact valve system 200 through hole 83 a. The check valve 306 willblock the flow from entering chamber 307. The retainer will channel thepumped air through channel 83 b into hole 83 c as shown in FIG. 10E. Asshown in FIG. 14, from location 83 c the pumped air passes through port89 of retainer, through directional valve 310 into chamber 311 and intopassageway 430 of the inlet control housing 402. Flow from passageway430 is routed via curved slot 450 formed in the inlet control housing tochannel 460 as shown in FIG. 19. Flow exits into the cavity via alignedholes 470, 504, 706.

As described above, the pump assembly may be positioned in the tiresidewall, radially outward of the rim flange surface 26 in the chafer120. So positioned, the air tube 42 is radially inward from the tirefootprint 100 and is thus positioned to be flattened by forces directedfrom the tire footprint as described above. The segment that is oppositethe footprint 100 will flatten from the compressive force 106 from thefootprint 100 pressing the tube segment against the rim flange surface26. Although the positioning of the tube 42 is specifically shown asbetween a chafer 120 of the tire at the bead region 34 and the rimsurface 26, it is not limited to same, and may be located at any regionwhich undergoes compression, such as anywhere in the sidewall or tread.

From the forgoing, it will be appreciated that the subject invention maybe used with a secondary tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (notshown) of conventional configuration that serves as a system faultdetector. The TPMS may be used to detect any fault in the self-inflationsystem of the tire assembly and alert the user of such a condition.

Variations in the present invention are possible in light of thedescription of it provided herein. While certain representativeembodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustratingthe subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this artthat various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, tobe understood that changes can be made in the particular embodimentsdescribed which will be within the full intended scope of the inventionas defined by the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tire having a pump and valve assemblycomprising: a. the tire having a tire cavity, and a first and secondsidewall extending respectively from first and second tire bead regionsto a tire tread region; b. the valve assembly having a valve housing,wherein the valve housing has an interior chamber, wherein a diaphragmis mounted in the interior chamber, and wherein the diaphragm is influid communication with the tire cavity; c. said valve housing having apassageway in fluid communication with the tire cavity and the outletend of the pump, d. said interior chamber having an inlet in fluidcommunication with the outside air, and an outlet in fluid communicationwith an inlet and an outlet of the pump passageway, e. said valveassembly further including an inlet control valve positioned over theoutlet and operative to open and close said outlet; f. wherein aresilient member is positioned in the interior chamber of the valvehousing, and positioned to bias the inlet control valve into the openposition.
 2. The tire of claim 1 wherein the resilient member has afirst end connected to the inlet control valve.
 3. The tire of claim 1wherein the inlet control valve has a first end connected to thediaphragm.
 4. The tire of claim 1 wherein the resilient member has aninner hub, and a plurality of spokes which extend radially from the hub.5. The tire of claim 2 wherein the inner hub is connected to the inletcontrol valve.
 6. The tire of claim 2 wherein the inner hub is connectedto the inlet control valve bottom.
 7. The tire of claim 1 wherein a oneway valve is positioned between the outlet of the interior chamber andthe inlet end of the pump passageway.
 8. The tire of claim 1 wherein aone way valve is positioned between the pump outlet end and thepassageway in the valve housing.
 9. The tire of claim 1 wherein a filterassembly is in fluid communication with the outside air.
 10. The tire ofclaim 1 wherein the inlet control valve further includes a secondresilient member.
 11. The tire of claim 1 wherein the resilient memberis made of metal.
 12. A tire having a bidirectional pump and valveassembly comprising: a. the tire having a tire cavity, and a first andsecond sidewall extending respectively from first and second tire beadregions to a tire tread region; b. said tire having a pump passageway,said pump passageway having a first end and a second end and beingoperative to allow a portion of the pump passageway near a tirefootprint to substantially close and open the pump passageway when thetire is rotated in a first direction or second direction opposite saidfirst direction, c. the valve assembly having a valve housing, wherein adiaphragm is mounted in the valve housing forming an interior chamber,and wherein the diaphragm is responsive to the pressure of the tirecavity; d. said interior chamber having a inlet in fluid communicationwith the outside air, and an outlet in fluid communication with a firstchamber and a second chamber; e. said valve assembly further includingan inlet control valve positioned in the interior chamber, wherein theinlet control valve is positioned over the outlet and operative to openand close the outlet; f. wherein a resilient member is positioned in theinterior chamber of the valve housing, and being connected to the inletcontrol valve, wherein the resilient member biases the inlet controlvalve into the open position; g. Wherein said first chamber has a oneway valve positioned therein, and said first chamber is in fluidcommunication with the pump passageway first end; h. Wherein said secondchamber has a one way valve positioned therein, and said second chamberis in fluid communication with the pump passageway second end; i.Wherein the valve housing further includes a third chamber, wherein thethird chamber is in fluid communication with the pump first end and thetire cavity; j. Wherein a one way valve is positioned in the thirdchamber, wherein the third chamber is located between the pump first endand the tire cavity.
 13. The tire of claim 12 wherein the valve housinghas a fourth chamber, wherein said fourth chamber is in fluidcommunication with the tire cavity and a pump passageway first end, andsaid fourth chamber has a one way valve positioned therein.
 14. The tireof claim 12 wherein the inlet control valve is connected to thediaphragm.
 15. The tire of claim 12 wherein the one way valve of thefirst chamber prevents flow from entering the interior chamber.
 16. Thetire of claim 12 wherein the one way valve of the second chamberprevents flow from entering the interior chamber.
 17. The tire of claim12 wherein the one way valve of the third chamber prevents flow from thetire cavity from entering the pump passageway.
 18. The tire of claim 12wherein the one way valve of the fourth chamber prevents flow from thetire cavity from entering the pump passageway.
 19. The tire of claim 12wherein a filter is positioned between the outside air and the thirdhole.
 20. The tire of claim 12 wherein the valve housing has a channelwhich routes flow from an outlet of the third chamber to an outlet ofthe fourth chamber.